Suction cleaner



Sept. 15, 1942. P1 E. FRANTZ SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jul 5, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet -1 INVENTOR.

. PAUL EFRANTZ,

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 15', 1942. P. FRANTZ SUCT-ION CLEANER Filed July 5, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 2 k MN NR. R

INVENTOR. PAUL E. FEANTZ. .BY M u a i Q w w mmw ATTORNEY.

' Sept. 15, 1942. p, E, FRA-m-z 2,296,234

SUQTION CLEANER Q Filed July 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FAUL E.FRANTZ ATTORNEY Patented a 194i.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l p i r 2,296,234;

SUCTION CLEANER Paul E. Frantz, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The ApexElectrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohioe .i ncauonm 5, 1940, Serial noealaszi 3 Claims. (Cl. 285-167) Thisinvention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to the tankor cylinder type of suction cleaner, wherein a portable suctionproducingunit is provided with a flexible hose be connected to dusting andcleaning adapted to tools. v n l 1 t It is among the objects of myinvention to provide a suction cleaner of the type referred to, in whichthe suction-producing unit and the dust-collecting receptacle areenclosed within an oblong tank or shell which may be easily moved aboutover a supporting surface.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a suction cleaneraccording to the preceding object, wherein a carrying handle for thecleaner is constructed and arranged so as to comprise a control for theswitch for the motor in the suction-producing unit.

It;is a further object of my invention to provide a suction cleaner orthe type referred to wherein the flexible hose leading from the cleanerto the dusting tools is fitted with a coupling which will-effectivelyseal the joint between the hose and the cleaner and which willfacilitate the attachment and detachment of the hose.

It is a further object of rriy invention to pro.- vide'a cleaner of thecharacter described, wherein a replaceable filter is arranged inxthe airstream between. the dust-collecting bag and the suction-producing unit.v It is also anobject of my invention to provide asuction cleaneraccording to the preceding objects wherein the tank or shell issupported by runners having a simple and efficient means for attachingthe runners to the cleaner body.

Further objects and advantages relating to simplicity in constructionand efficiency in use will appear from the following description andappended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly insection of a section cleaner madeaccording to my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section showing the attachment of theflexible hose to the suctioncleaner by means of a coupling madeaccording tomy invention; n t

Figure 3 is a plan view of the suction cleaner with parts broken away; i

Figure 4 is a plan view with parts in section of the flexible hoseandcoupling device forming a part of my suction cleaner; t

Figure 5'is a front elevation showing the runner mounting employed in mysuction cleaner;

dust bag I3, thence through the germ trap or ing the handle and switchmounting made according to my invention;

form of handle and switch assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the suction cleaner which I have providedcomprises a casing which in the preferred form consists of a cylindricalshell 6 having end bells or caps 'l and 8. A suction-producing unit isindicated in its entirety at 9; comprising a motor In and a fan chamberH, said unit being mounted at the rear end of the casing 6, adjacent theend bell 8. The unit 8 is designed to draw all through the inlet openingl2, thence through the pores of the fabric filter M, around the motor i0and exhaust the air through the outlet opening i5.

To dampen the noise occasioned by the motor and fan uni-t, andstofacilitate the assembly, the unit 9 is preferably supported within thecasing 6 by the annular rubber rings l1 and id. The rubber ring I! isshaped in cross-section as shown in Figure 1 so that the forward facethereof bears against a shoulder on the metal ring l9 which isspot-welded or otherwise secured to the casing 6. The rubber ring l8bears against'a metal ring 2| carried withinan annular recess in theopen end of the end hell 8 so that uponassembly of the end bell 8 withthe casing 5, the metal I ring 2| is drawn against the rubber ringllFiguret is an elevation with parts in'section showing the runnermounting;

Figure 'l'is an enlarged sectional view showwhich in turn urges theentire fan and motor Longitudinally extending tie rods 22 are carried bythe end bell 8 and the threaded nuts 23 may be drawn up sons toclampsecurely the unitfi in position through the medium of the end bell8. The rods 22 are preferably provided with tubes or sleeves ofinsulating material 22a in that portion of their length adjacent the fanand motor unit 9. This it will be observed that I have provided aconstruction wherein the entire motor and fan unit and the end hell 8are efiectively secured in their assembled positionvby longitudinallyextending tie rods 22. The motor and fan unit are insulated bothelectrically and with respect to noise in the unit by the rubber ringmounting I'|i8 sothat the unit is safe and quiet in operation. The fanis preferably of the multi stage or progressive type, although thespecific construction employed in fan and motor does the runner.

to-the casing 5 by means of the toggle clamps 25 and between theabutting edges of the casing 6 and the end bell I is carried the annularrubber ring 26 which not only seals the 'joint between the end hell 1and the casing 6, but also carries a metal ring 21 to which is securedthe open end of the fabric dust bag l3.

By means of the dust bag mounting which I have provided, the releasingof the clamps25 facilitates the removal of the dust bag l3 through theforward open end of the casing 6 for the purpose of emptying the bag.

Tests have shown that the exhaust from some of the cleaners of thecylinder type carry fine particles of dust and germs which have beendrawn through the pores of the dust bag. To eliminate the danger tohealth associated with exhaust air of this character I have inserted inthe air stream between the dust bag and the unit 8, a germ trap orfilter i4 which comprises a felted or fibrous pad which may beimpregnated with antiseptic solutions. The filter unit I4 may be easilyremoved through the open front end of the casing 5 after the dust bag isre- 29 of rigid material having a channel cross section, a pair ofspaced metal screen members 30 to retain the pad 3| in position and ahandle 32 integrally formed with the ring 29.

According to my invention the casing 6 is supported on the floor andspaced therefrom by a runner assembly comprising spaced runners 40 and'4I- secured to longitudinally-spaced saddle brackets 42 and 43. Thesaddle brackets are secured to the casing as shown in Figure 5 by aresecured to the brackets and retained therein against rotation withrespect to the bracket by means of the screw and pin connection bestshown in Figure 6. The inturned ends of the runners are axially boredand threaded to receive the screws 45 and 46, respectively. Removablepins 41 and 48 extend transversely of the end of To remove the runnerfrom the bracket as shown in Figure 6, the screw 46 is removed and therunner section 42a is pulled rearwardly by springing said sectionsufficiently to expose the transverse pin 48, which normally sets in asocket in the rear face of the bracket 43. The pin 48 may then beremoved. Thereafter the screw at the forward end of the runner mayberemoved and by sliding the entire runner forwardly, the inturned frontend of the runner may be moved axially so as to free the same from thebracket 42. Thereafter the entire runner assembly may be slid rearwardlywith respect to the bracket 43 so as to free the inturned rearward endof the runner. 7

When the runners are in their supporting position as shown in Figure 6,the transverse pins 41 and 48 insure that there will be no rotatingmovement of the runner with respect to. the brackets 42-43. The runnermounting means I have provided thus renders the runner removable forpurposes of repair and assembly.

The carrying handle and switch arrangement which I have providedcomprises a longitudinally extending, rigid handle 50 which ispreferably of metal or molded plastic and is pivoted as at 5| on itsforward end and is mounted for movement within the bracket 52 at itrearward end. Enclosed within the bracket 52 is the motor switch 53having push button operating means 54 bearing against anintegrally-formed lug 55 on the carrying handle. The carrying handle isnormally urged upwardly within the bracket 52 by means of the coilspring 58 which surrounds a bolt 54a anchored in the top wall of the endbell 8.

The upper end of the coil spring 56 bears against a washer 51 which inturn bears against the under side of the lower face of the end of thehandle 50 and thus the said end of the bandle 50 is normally urgedupwardly to the limits defined by the length of the bolt 54a, Torestrain the handle from upward movement beyond the side walls of thebracket 52, the end of the handle adjacent the switch portion 54 isprovided with a pair of spaced, depending apertured portions 59.

The lower end of the spring 58 bears against a U-shaped cilp 58 havingoutwardly turned ends 60 which extend through the apertures in themembers 59. The apertures in the member 59 permit the handle to be moveddownwardly against the action of the spring 58 so that the boss 55 onthe handle will actuate the push button 54 on the switch 53. Uponrelease f the handle, the spring 55 will restore the handle to itsposition shown in Figures 7 and 8, whereby the handle may serve itscarrying function with respect to the suction cleaner.

The switch 53 is of the conventional pushbutton type, wherein successivedepressing movements of the button 54 establish or interrupttheelectrical circuit through the switch.

My cleaner is provided with a flexible exten-.

thereto various forms of dusting tools or cleaning brushes. In cleanersof the type referred to, the flexible hose in addition to serving as aconduit for the device is often employed to pull the entire suctioncleaner about the floor. To accomplish this double function, it isimportant that the coupling connection between the hose and the cleanernot only seal the joint between the hose and the cleaner, but that aconnection maintained .be strong enough to sustain the pull occasionedby pulling the cleaner about the floor.

It is also advantageous that the coupling include a swivel joint betweenthe hose and the cleaner so that the frequent turning movementsoccasioned by manipulation of the dusting tools will not twist or kinkthe flexible hose.

To achieve the functions above outlined, I have provided a couplingindicated in its entirety at 66, which comprises a tubular element 51which is cemented or otherwise secured to the flexible hose as at 58 atone end and which is rolled outwardly as at 69 at its other end tooverhang a portion of the coupling member 10. A bead H is rolledintermediate the length of the tube 81 to provide a restraining shoulderfor ring 12 which abuts the inner end of the coupling member 10. Thering 12 and the outwardly turned portion 69 of the tube have afree-turning fit with the coupling member 10 so as to provide the swiveljoint connection between the flexible tube 65 and the suctioncleanercasing. The coupling member 10 is in threaded engagement end of thecleaner.

over the outer wall or the coupling member 10 and between saidportion'l3 and the end portion I4 oi the member 10 is arranged anannular rubber ring 10. Washers I and I1 are arranged on each side ofthe rubberring II. A coil spring I0 is also arranged in the annularspace between the portion 13. and I4 with the inner periphery of thecoil spring I0 bearing against an inclined shoulder 19 so that movementof the coil spring toward the open end of the coupling will cause thecoil spring to increase in diameter.

, As shown in Figure 2, the coil spring I0 has been urged axially up theincline by turning the member 12a so that a portion of the coil springis moved outwardly into a groove 00 formed in the opening of the endbell. As soon as the coiled spring has moved into a groove 80, as shownin Figure 2, further axial movement of the rubber ring 15 is restrainedand the continued turning of the outer coupling member 12 causes therubber ring to increase its diameter end bell.

To insure that there will be relative rotational movement between the.inner and outer coupling members 10 and I2, I have provided the innercoupling member I0 with axially extending pins 82 which are adapted toengage lugs 83 on the radial wall 84 at the inner end of the end bellopening.

and seal the joint between the coupling member l0 and the annular wallof the opening in the 5 The outer coupling member 12a. is suitablygrooved or knurled as shown at 85, so that the userofthe cleaner maywith one simple movement insert the coupling 66 within the opening inthe end bell I and by a slight turning motion expand the coil spring I8into its locking position and also expand the rubber ring 15into sealingposition.

From the foregoing description of the flexible invention firstdescribed. In the form oi my invention illustrated in Figure 9, thecarrying handle I00 comprises a molded rubber section which is anchoredas at'IM to the cleaner casing on its forward end. The rear end of thehandle is proportioned to overhang. a section or the end bellabove themotor switch I00. -The' extreme end oi. the handle. as at I06 isarranged within a metal handle bracket I01. The rear end ot-the handleI0! is secured to the end bell I M through the medium of the transversepin H2. The pin I I2 is mounted to have a limited axial movement in slotIIZa formed in the side walls of the handle bracket I01. The bracket I0!is secured to the end bell by means. of cap screws or the like I08. Anintegrally-formed, contact portion I00 of the handle is arranged to bearagainst push button IIO of the switch and the flexibility inherent inthe rubber of the handle permits the end portion thereof to be flexed soas to eiIect actuation of the push button III! To insure that theportion I09 will be restored to its raised position, as shown in Figure9. a leaf spring III is arranged between the handle portion I09 and theend bell IOI. Theleaf spring is preferably held in assembled position'bya loop surrounding the transverse pin H2, The pin and slot arrangementII2-I I2a permits a sliding and flexing oi the handle which facilitatesthe switch actuation described and the moveniient of the handle toconvenient carrying posit on. a a

The operation of the handle and switch construction shown in themodification of Figure 9 is substantially like that in the embodimentfirst described, except that in the modified. form, the

entire handle does not have a bodily movement I the handle and handlebracket and is actuated hose and coupling therefor, it will beunderstood that I have provided a coupling wherein an expansible lockingmeans and an expansible sealing ring'are jointly acted upon andcooperate with each other to effect the functions for which they aredesigned by a simple, turning movement of one portion of the coupling.

A suction cleaner made according to my invention is also suited'for usewith paint s'praying and demothing devices which utilize the exhaust orblowing force of the cleaner rather than the suction. To adapt mycleaner to such uses, I have provided the rear end bell exhaust openingI5 with an annular wall 90 having a groove 9|, which wall and groove areadapted to receive the hose coupling 65 in the manner heretoforedescribed in connection with the inlet or suction The nozzle portion 61of the flexible hose may then be fitted with demothing or paint-sprayingdevices which are operated by the pressure developed. by the motor andfan unit 9.

In the use of the.last-named devices, the dust bag and filter may beremoved from the cleaner so as to reduce the resistance to air flowthrough this portion of the cleanerand effect a consequent raising ofthe, pressure by the unit 9.

In Figure 9 I have shown a modified form of my suction cleaner, whereinthe casing I00 is tapered from'the forward end toward the rear end bellI0 I. The fanand motor unit I02 is mounted within the casing I00substantially in the same manner as in the embodiment of my claim is:

-1. A suction cleaner having an inlet opening provided with a smooth,cylindrical portion having an annular groove, a hose, a coupling on theend of said hose provided'with an expansible member adapted to beexpanded within the said smooth, cylindrical portion'of the inletopening to form a seal therewith, an expansible member in engagementwith said first-named expansible member adapted to be outwardly expandedinto said groove to restrain the coupling against longitudinal movementwith respect to the cleaner and means movable longitudinally of thecoupling to expand both of said members.

3 2. A suction cleaner having an inlet opening provided with a smoothcylindrical portion hav- .ing an annular groove, ahose, a coupling onthe end of said hose provided with an outwardly expansible resilientsleeve adapted to be expanded within the said smooth cylindrical portionof the inlet opening to form a seal therewith, an expansible annularmetallic member coaxially arranged in contact with said sleeve andadapted to be outwardly expanded into said groove to restrain thecoupling against longitudinal movement with respect to the cleaner andmeans movable longitudinally of the coupling to expand said sleeve andmember.

3. In combination a fitting having a smooth cylindrical bore providedwith an annular groove, a. hose, 9, coupling on the end of said hoseadapted to fit within said bore, a flange on the end of said coupling,means on said flange and on said fitting to prevent relative rotationbetween the flange, an annular outwardly expansible ring abutting saidcam portion, an outwardly expansible sleeve coaxially arranged on thecoupling adjacent saidring, means on said coupling in engagement withsaid sleeve to move the sleeve and ring longitudinall oi. the couplingwhereby the cam portion eflects outward expansion of said ring into saidgroove and the sleeve is outwardly expanded into sealing engagement with10 the fitting.

PAUL E. FRANTZ.

